Our Schools Need More Funding and Resources
Recently I received a copy of this letter and yes its from a school in the electorate of Braddon. Honestly, I am both incredibly frustrated and ticked off this is happening in 2024. To top it off, Autism Tasmania after 30 years are now shutting its doors because they no longer receive funding to remain open. I wish I could use more explicit language to demonstrate my outrage.
Our mainstream schools NEED more support for children who are neurodivergent, period!
Adding to the outrageous frustration our children are on 5 year waiting lists to see speech pathologists and psychologists through the schooling system. So, parents are forced to scrape and borrow so their children can see a professional privately, during a cost-of-living crisis!
We need to ask ourselves what kind of society do WE want?
Especially so as I attended a meeting this morning hosted by the The Australia Institute explaining how other countries in the OECD like Australia tax the multinationals and the top 0.1%. They raise revenue which is used to help their citizens quality of life. Used to fund programs like support for schools.
Of the 38 countries in the OECD the evidence is clear, in some of the most critical metrics for people’s wellbeing Australia comes dead last or second last. Yet, in the same OECD reporting Australia is the third richest nation. But we have the most poverty stricken 56-69 age group and the second most poverty-stricken 69+ age group in the OECD. We all know why, its because the major parties rather look after their corporate buddies so they can walk straight into a cashed-up job when they leave politics. Rather than taxing them and looking after their citizens.
This is why I am working with volunteers from our community who are forming grassroots subject matter expert advisory groups (that’s a mouthful). They will lead the charge in developing policy in their subject area, helping me to develop policy. In this case, a volunteer group of experts in Mothers and Children. Mums like you developing policy for our community.
If you have something to say about Mothers and Children, please let me know in the comments and send me a private message, and I will pass it on to the new group once they are ready.
It is disgusting that there are no funds for Autism Tasmania. We have three neurodivergent children who had to be homeschooled because of a school in the Braddon electorate being unwilling to treat our children fairly; we had to get a mediator involved, but it led to us choosing to homeschool.
While that was the best option for our children, not every parent has the time to spend homeschooling.
I find it reprehensible that the government is not funding solutions for neurodivergent children. I am glad you’re taking this on board for all the parents and children out there that are struggling with the education department in relation to this topic.
Thank you for your commitment to exploring this issue.